Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association Newsletter
(May 8, 2011 - May 14, 2011)
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As I See It... 
 
Searching  

Boy I wish it was sunny out.  I want sunny and 78 degrees for about the next six months please. 

I know it has been the worst "spring" in recent memory but I really can't blame it all on the rain can I?  Maybe the economy?  Road construction?  Gas prices?

I've been riding high since my new store opened five years ago and April 2011 was the first time I have experienced a decline in sales.  It is not a pleasant feeling and it sent me searching for the reasons why, and what I can do about it.

The first thing I did was go through the obvious list of things you might think of including the aforementioned culprits.  I also looked at my competition to see what they are doing better than me: events, selection, presentation, staffing, and last and least in my book; price.

My quest didn't get me all the answers; but it gave me a lot more to work on than I expected.  I can't wait to see you at the conference.  Maybe we will have some great weather!  Then again maybe not.

Brian Hachey, MMBA Director

Vote for Baudette! 
 
Fishing  

Here is a note from Baudette city clerk / treasurer Tina Rennemo...

 

Baudette is in the final running to be named WFN Ultimate Fishing Town and we are up against a couple of large cities in New York.

  

Clearly we need all of our Minnesota friends to jump on the wagon and help us to vote our way to the $25,000 grand prize finish!!  In addition, it gives a terrific "shout out" our great state and the many opportunities that we have-it isn't only a vote for Baudette but a vote for the State of Minnesota.

  

PLEASE go to www.WFNFishingTown.com and vote for Baudette!  You can vote four times per day with EACH email address that you have and voting ends on May 31st.  The link is also on the city home page if you need further reference. 
 
I ask that you share it with all of your friends and family and others who have enjoyed or plan to enjoy a family fishing trip on Lake of the Woods. 
  
THANK YOU!!

 

Detroit Lakes Liquor Store Likely to Relocate 
 
Lakes Liquor

By Pippi Mayfield, DL-Online

 

After a few preliminary meetings, the Detroit Lakes liquor committee and city staff, working alongside Alexandria firm Ringdahl Architects, have tentatively found a new home for the municipal liquor store.

 

Recognizing that the space Lakes Liquors is in on Roosevelt Avenue is too tight, not convenient and not conducive to growth, the group interviewed a few architect firms before settling on Ringdahl.

 

The city and Ringdahl have worked with an initial study that included recommendations for the size of a new liquor store and parking spaces needed, and have now found a lot in the redevelopment area that would suit Lakes Liquors' needs.

 

Visibility, accessibility and adaptability are the main points of focus for a new store, which translates to a 10,000-square-foot building with an attached 3,000 square feet for expansion, located along McKinley Avenue across from Central Market and Burger Time.

 

At Thursday afternoon's meeting, members of the liquor committee, Lakes Liquors Manager Brad MacMaster, City Administrator Bob Louiseau and Ringdahl associate Richard Hardine discussed several building configurations on the lot.

 

The lot where Burger Time now sits was discussed as an option as well, but ruled out early because of space constraints.

 

"It's good visibility, but it kind of has to be forced," Alderman Ron Zeman said of the building and parking lot on that site. "It doesn't make it an easy store."

 

Several of the same problems would exist as they do at the current location, he added, so what would be the point of building new with the same issues?

 

It was also agreed that there are different businesses that could benefit from overlooking the Veterans Memorial Park, whereas that's not pertinent to the liquor store business.

 

The more favorable lot across Holmes Street from Burger Time would have more access points, more parking spaces (for both vehicles and trucks with boats and trailers), easier access for delivery trucks and, depending on where the building would sit on the lot, the city would already own the land.

 

If the building stays on the east and south portion of the lot, the city already owns that land. If it shifts to the west, Bremer Bank owns a portion of that land. Louiseau said the bank has expressed interest in selling that land to the city.

 

Committee members agreed that the lot, regardless of how the building would be situated, would have good visibility and be accessible.

 

For adaptability, the plan shows a 13,000-square-foot building, with 10,000 square feet dedicated to the liquor store and 3,000 square feet to be leased to a specialty store, like meat and cheese for example, something to complement a liquor store.

 

The attached 3,000 square feet will be used for liquor store expansion if needed in the future.

 

The next step for the committee is to look at interior design elements..

 

Here's A Good Idea:

Use A Numbers Theme

 
Numbers
By BarOwnerTips.com
  
Use a number theme to make your market your promotion and make it easy for customers to remember. 

 

They are catchy, so they spread by word of mouth and they stick in your customer's heads.  

 

Here's how some bars are using numbers to get more customers in the door: 

 

Flemings 5 at 6 'til 7 

 

This very popular promotion has been going on since the recession hit. Flemings bar offers 5 wines by the glass, 5 cocktails and 5 small plates for $6 until 7 p.m. every day.  

 

Lee Roy Selmon's 5th Quarter Bar/restaurant chain

 

Lee Roy Selmon's has put together a "5th Quarter" promotion on Thursday nights with cocktails like Pomegranite Martinis and Long Island Iced Teas priced at under $5 and appetizers also priced under $5 from 9 p.m. to close - a typically slow time for the bar/restaurant.  

 

Breadbar 3 to 6 

 

Breadbar in Century City does a Sunset promotion where appetizers are from $3 to $6 from 3 p.m. - 6 p.m Monday through Friday.  They also offer beer and wine specials during this time (though they don't go with the theme.) 

 

As you can see, lots of bars are having success playing with numbers in their promotions, so why don't you give it a try? 

 

Find a pricepoint that's attractive to your target customers and start advertising the promotion in house.  
Future Dates to Remember!!
 MMBA Annual
Conference

May 22-24, 2011
Arrowwood Resort

Click Here for Details
Ask A Director

Gary Buysse
Rogers
763-428-0163

Bob Leslie
 Pelican Rapids
218-863-6670

Brian Hachey
Stacy
651-462-2727

Nancy Drumsta
Delano
763-972-0578

Lara Smetana
Pine City
320-629-2020

Michael Friesen
Hawley
218-483-4747

Tom Agnes
Brooklyn Center
763-381-2349

Steve Grausam
Edina
952-903-5732

Toni Buchite
50 Lakes
218-763-2035

Michelle Olson
Sebeka
218-837-9745
E-Mail Me

Bridgitte Konrad
North Branch
651-674-8113

Paul Kaspszak
MMBA
763-572-0222
1-866-938-3925

 
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In Memoriam
Jager
Nancy Jo Jager, wife of Dawson Liquor manager Garney Jager passed away on May 6.
  

Nancy liked to read, watch movies and all types of sporting events, dancing, being outside and going to the lake. She loved spending time with her friends and family, but her grandchildren were her life.

 

MMBA extends our sympathy to Garney, the family and friends.

 

Click Here to See the Obituary 

It's Tom's First Day as a Bartender...
Bar Photo
It's Tom's first day on the job as a bartender.
  
As he serves a customer a Manhattan, a piece of parsley falls into the drink.
  
"What's that?" the customer asks.
  
"It's your Manhattan.  And there's Central Park."

Work teams that laugh together become resilient